It's been said that 4 out of 5 companies fail in the first 5 years. And of those that remain, 4 out of 5 fail in the next 5 years. As we enter our 10th year in business at SWIFT Weather, this milestone is undoubtedly a proud achievement for us.

The last decade has seen a lot of changes. I'll admit it was rarely easy. But what a rewarding experience it has been to build a business devoted to protecting communities and saving lives.

As we look ahead, things only get more exciting. Thanks to the tremendous response to Weather Defender, our company has more than doubled in size in the last year and continues to grow. There are more enhancements, more clients, and more new projects than ever before. The future is looking bright, indeed.

My sincerest thanks to all of you, our customers, who have made this possible. You shared our vision for safer communities and citizen preparedness, and you make this vision a reality through your on-going support.

And my deepest thanks to the SWIFT Weather team: Mark, Doug, Liz, Emily, Bill, and Becca. This wouldn't be possible without you.

"Dangerously cold wind chills were anticipated in the Midwest overnight, including as low as 35 below in eastern Nebraska, minus 45 in parts of South Dakota and negative 50 in North Dakota, according to National Weather Service warnings." (AP)

Jan 7, 2010: Artic air pushes south from Canada triggering Wind Chill and Freeze Warnings across the U.S.

Jan 7, 2010: The Upper Midwest is experiencing the brunt of the cold,with with extreme winds and blowing snow

Don't take any chances today or friday--its going to be fatally cold. At least 7 people have died so far this season, including 4 in Chicago. If you can delay or avoid travel plans through the Midwest, you should do so.

If you must go out in this weather, take it seriously. Have the following in your car:

Cell phone with charger

Shovel & scrapers

Flashlight

Extra Hats, coats, mittens, blankets

Battery powered radio

Snack food and water

Road salt or sand

First aid kit

Most importantly: Stay tuned to emergency broadcasts and know the weather situation for yourself!